Westport's Jake Friar follows in footsteps of older brother, Nick

Jake took a major step in following Nick to an elite Division 1 collegiate baseball program, signing a letter of intent to attend Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

Comment

By BILL ABRAMSON

southcoasttoday.com

By BILL ABRAMSON

Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By BILL ABRAMSON
Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

WESTPORT — Jake Friar has always had a guide along his baseball journey in his older brother, Nick.

On Tuesday morning, Jake, 18, took a major step in following Nick to an elite Division 1 collegiate baseball program, signing a letter of intent to attend Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. Nick is a junior pitcher at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

Whereas Nick is making his mark on the mound, Jake hopes his legacy will be made behind the plate.

"I've been catching since I was 9, but that was only out of necessity," Jake explained. "My brother wanted to stop catching and pick up pitching. When Nick decided he wanted to be a pitcher, I became the catcher.

"Nick has been a great role model, showing me how to work hard, concentrate on strength training and every facet of baseball. He's playing at a high level and he's shown me the way."

Once the way was pointed out, it was up to the younger Friar to make the most of his opportunities, and that he has.

"Jake's a great catcher," Westport High baseball coach Glenn Lincoln said without hesitation. "He's been calling his own games since he was a freshman. He caught his brother, who is three years older, at clinics at Holy Cross and Boston College. While his brother was learning, so was Nick.

"The last couple of years, I'm a one-person coaching staff. He's been my pitching and catching coach as well as captain. I took care of the infielders and outfielders. We've had a jayvee catcher, who's improved big time, but it won't be the same as having Jake behind the plate."

Friar has emerged as the team's No. 1 pitcher as well as its No. 1 catcher. A switch hitter, Jake concentrated on hitting right-handed this year and has a batting average in the .380 range.

"The two brothers have been a godsend," Lincoln said. "I think he feels more comfortable behind the plate and I know they (Sacred Heart) wanted him as a catcher. He can pick out if a guy has a loop in swing and has a great memory of what a batter did the last time.

"He's No. 1 in his class, and he shows that intelligence on and off the field. He's going to have a double major and he can't wait to go."

The final choice for Friar came down to Sacred Heart and Georgetown with the two-time defending Northeast Conference champion winning out.

"Sacred Heart is really special," Friar said. "They offer what I want out of a college. It doesn't have the charisma of an Ivy League school or Georgetown, but going to college is what you make out of it. If you go to college with an open mind, you'll get what you want out of it. Sacred Heart will prepare me perfectly."

He'll have the opportunity to take a double major in physical therapy and business, with the possibility of athletic training also available. On the field, Sacred Heart won out, too.

"Sacred Heart is a very successful team in New England," Friar pointed out. "This year, they opened at LSU. They try to challenge themselves. Harbor Field in Bridgeport is where the Bridgeport Blue Fish play and it's kind of like the park in Lowell. There's a lot of seating and the field is really cool. I can't wait to play there."

Jake and his mother, Maria, signed the letter of intent and they were surrounded by his dad, Mike Friar, general manager of the New Bedford Bay Sox; Lincoln, athletic director Jay Pacheco, principal Cheryl Tutalo and guidance counselor Paul Amaral.